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From: cec@...To: bjbLACKLER@...Sent: 10/23/2008 3:31:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: October 23, 2008 - School encourages reading, mutual respect for students with dyslexia

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October 23, 2008

News for special education professionals

Curriculum & Instruction

School encourages reading, mutual respect for students with dyslexiaFamilies from as far as Hawaii are enrolling their children in Alabama's only school that exclusively serves students with dyslexia, saying it will prepare their children for higher education. "I was afraid if I didn't get him the services he needed that he wouldn't go to college and be a high-school dropout," Kim Montecalvo, the mother of a Greengate student, said. "He gets what he needs now." The Huntsville Times (Ala.) (10/23)

Students with special needs respond to mentorsSome Chicago high schoolers spend two days each week mentoring young students with special needs in a physical-education class that parents and teachers say has yielded positive results for both groups. Teachers say the mentoring program encourages the acceptance of all students. Chicago Tribune (free registration) (10/22)

Report: 20% of young NYC students miss a month of classMore than 90,000 New York City elementary students -- nearly one-quarter -- missed one month or more of class during the 2007-08 school year, according to a Center for New York City Affairs at the New School report. "Chronic absenteeism in elementary schools is disproportionately a problem in poor and minority communities and it immediately puts students behind their middle-class peers," the report said. The New York Times (10/20)

Standards Plus Intervention System® is a comprehensive set of mini lessons spanning K-8th grade skills in Language Arts and Math. It includes responsive education materials you need for RtI Tier 2 services and RtI Tier 3 intensive learning challenges and is suitable for early intervention services. Visit www.learning-plus.org, to learn more.

Educational Leadership

Foreign teachers fill gaps in low-income schoolsAt least 18,000 of the United States' 3.7 million teachers were hired from other countries to fill national shortages of math, science and special-education teachers, according to The American Federation of Teachers union. Officials say most foreign teachers are hired for poor urban or rural schools, and may broaden students' world views by exposing them to other cultures. USA TODAY (10/23)

Use the Functional Skills System to teach your students independent living skills. Help your students learn to function independently in their homes, schools, communities and workplaces. Using live action video and human-quality audio, teach your students functional literacy, social, life and work skills that allow for freedom and independence.

Technology Trends

Teens access health, wellness info onlineA recent survey showed that more than half of young people in the 13-to-24 age group access health information online, especially information about HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and drug abuse. MediaPost Communications (10/21)

Policy News

Autism myths debunkedExperts say the public mistakenly believes there is an autism "epidemic" and that many don't realize that autism is a biological disorder. Among the many misconceptions about autism, the public also believes there is a cure for autism or that it is caused by detached parenting. ABC News (10/23)

Lawyers: ADA expansion may lead to more litigationNew ADA amendments could usher in more lawsuits against businesses, some Kansas attorneys say. To avoid litigation, companies should work together with employees with disabilities to ensure they have adequate training and accommodations. The Wichita Eagle (Kan.) (10/23)

Research: TV can aid in learningVarious studies that track the affect of TV-watching on young children suggest that viewing of educational materials can be beneficial. Child development professor Althea Huston said: "If used correctly, television can be a wonderful medium for kids. It can be a way of exposing them to the world. It can be a resource for kids to get to places and times they wouldn't get to." Chicago Tribune (free registration) (10/22)

Eye on Exceptionalities

Professor: Tools needed to treat habit learningNew research suggests that some characteristics of autism and other disorders could be caused by problems with habitual learning, stored in the striatum, the middle of the brain that responds almost like an "autopilot." "If the autopilot system is destructive, a novel system must be brought online," said Dr. J. Pittenger, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale. "For example, OCD is sometimes treated with cognitive behavioral therapy that helps patients recognize and change destructive 'autopilot' thoughts." New Haven Register (Conn.) (10/23)

CDC study finds Gardasil vaccine safeA CDC study of 190,000 girls and young women given the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil over the past two years found no evidence that it raises the risk of blood clots or other serious reactions. Dr. Offit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says the study results are "really reassuring" and counter the public perception that the vaccine is not safe. The Washington Post/HealthDay News (10/22)

CEC Spotlight

Say "I Educate, I Participate" with CEC's Voter Education Kit CEC is pleased to offer the Voter Education Kit, which contains all the materials you need to spread the "I Educate, I Participate" message. The kit includes one T-shirt, 100 stickers and one CD with CEC's Voter Education Guide for additional dissemination. Quantities are limited, so purchase yours today! Find out more.

This month on CEC's RTI Blog You know what Response to Intervention is and why it's important: now what? Exploring Response to Intervention is the place to exchange ideas with your fellow professionals. For the month of October, Cheney of the University of Washington, a national leader in the area of emotional and behavioral disabilities, will be blogging about behavior and RTI. Find out more.

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